Bad news isn’t wine. It doesn’t improve with age.

Powell’s line is a blunt management maxim: delaying the delivery of negative information rarely makes it easier to handle. Unlike wine, which can mature and become more palatable over time, “bad news” tends to compound—problems grow, options narrow, and trust erodes when leaders appear to hide or soften realities. The quote reflects a command-and-control environment (military, government, large organizations) where timely reporting is essential for sound decisions. It also implies an ethical stance: candor is a leadership duty, and confronting unpleasant facts early is often the least damaging course for people and institutions.